when a change of heart happens...

[derpivity]

Who: Minato, Kakashi, Shikamaru, Naruto, Sakura and Itachi
What: An emergency meeting re: Sasuke's arrival
When: Backdated to late afternoon of July 16
Where: The Yondaime's Uzumaki household
Summary: Kakashi saw it fit that the Yondaime be the one to decide on what to do with Sasuke so an emergency meeting is in order.
Rating: PG-13


He thinks he had already invited everyone involved.

Since Kakashi telling him about Sasuke, Minato has been feeling troubled. It's only been days since he knew about Obito and the news almost broke the well-regarded legend that he was. Granted, at the time, Sasuke hasn't arrived yet, but the news he's been continuously getting about the Uchiha clan is definitely worrisome. Had he lived, such a plight wouldn't have happened.

For sure, there must be another way.

Kakashi has been a very good source of information as he quietly yet carefully told him all he had to know. It was difficult knowing all these in one sitting that the night that followed left him sleepless. The Uchiha massacre, Sasuke seeking power to avenge his clan thus leaving Konoha, him being declared as a wanted fugitive for being associated in a terrorist group.

It's almost as if things went downhill after he and Kushina's death.

Leaving him to deal with things that happenened in his absence left Minato with a light series of headaches and nights that even when cuddled against his wife, went utterly deprived of sleep. What happened to his beloved village?

He doesn't intend to forcefully fix everything. After all, prevention is always better than cure and he's not exactly the Hokage anymore. Instead, Minato wants to surely yet carefully find a solution to all this that won't make things worse. These things had already transpired and the best thing he can do is deal with them the best possible way. They're not in Konoha right now, so the best thing to do is live harmoniously in this place. In a foreign land, it's imperative to have allies rather than enemies.

Taking a deep breath, he runs the list of names he had invited. Only a small list of the ones personally involved. Not too many people as he wanted this to be under wraps.

Now he just has to wait.

Comments

TEAM 7

[derpivity]

[medicalpunch]

[Sakura's not sure whether to be surprised at the invitation or not; ultimately, maybe she shouldn't be. After all, Minato is a village hero precisely because of his great concern for his people, and with so many of them here, of course he's going to want to talk to everyone...

She arrives promptly at the time he calls for, a little nervous but focused on what they need to discuss.]

[believeit]

[Naruto's here too, for once he isn't saying much though. He knows why they are here and what it's about. He doesn't know what his Dad is going to say about the whole thing but he's ready for it, at least.]

[ura_no_ura]

[ For once, Kakashi isn't late.

(When it comes to Minato, he usually isn't.)

He doesn't acknowledge any surprise that Sakura or Naruto might (or might not) show, that their sensei who is usually always late, somehow has managed to actually arrive on time, and acts like this is normal. Even if it very much isn't. Or at least, hasn't been for the past sixteen years.

Upon arrival, he dips his head respectfully, closer to a bow than just a nod of greeting that he might normally give Minato. After all, even if Minato is his sensei and they are very familiar with each other, right now, Minato is his Hokage. And different settings call for different rules of engagement. ]

Yondaime-sama.

[ A greeting, of sorts. ]

[derpivity]

[He gives a small nod as his greeting to the three of them. There's some tea in the living room that Kushina prepared for this rendezvous and he gestures for them as he takes a seat.]

Take a seat and help yourselves. [Sorry, son. No ramen this time for now. Glancing at the pink-haired girl, Minato nods once more.] In any case, thank you for coming, Sakura. [Then at the silver-haired man.] Kakashi. [Naruto, well. You're his son so you live here, anyway. Once all of them are seated, Minato clears his throat to begin.]

I'm sure you all understand why I called you here. This is about your former teammate, Uchiha Sasuke. [He pauses a little, letting that sink in some.] I'd like to know what you guys think about him stating he's no longer an enemy of Konoha while fully knowing everything he did.

[medicalpunch]

[Of course this is something they need to discuss, something that Minato would want to know about but have no personal knowledge of. Sakura glances back and forth between Kakashi and Naruto before speaking.]

There's a lot that he's done. None of us can argue that.

[Well, Naruto can try, but she'd shut him down. Naruto's the one Sasuke has hurt the most, in both physical and emotional ways.]

But at least... when I found him by the river, he was being genuine.

Maybe it's foolish of me, but I believe him.

[believeit]

[Sakura guessed right, there is a lot about Sasuke and people's opinions on him that he would argue for. Not that he agrees with most of them, but he at least tries to understand.

Anyway for now, he doesn't think it will come to that. He knows full well why they are here. Listening to Sakura speak, he is surprised that she had run into their former team mate and not said anything, but he would ask her about that later. Once she's said her piece he turns to face his Father.]

Sakura-chan's right. It's Sasuke we're talking about here, he wouldn't say something if he didn't mean it. [He, Sakura and kakashi all know that much. If he wanted to attack or kill them, he wouldn't hide it, especially when Shikamaru said he had done something similar with Luceti in the past.]

If he says he's an ally, then he's an ally. We've gotta trust him on that.

[ura_no_ura]

[ Kakashi nods, more or less agreeing with both of his students, as he moves to crouch down in front of the coffee table, one knee hitting the floor. After all, Minato did say take a seat, and a lifetime of dealing with different Hokage tells him he should show respect. Especially for this particular Hokage. For a moment, his gaze flicked over to Sakura briefly, slightly surprised that she hadn't mentioned anything to anyone about the encounter. But she must have had her reasons, or so he figures.

His eye travels back to Minato. ]

Given what we know about the situation, I think it is fair to assume that Sasuke does not intend to be hostile towards any of us at the moment and is therefore not a threat. It is true that, at one point, he was quite hostile. [ To the point of killing intent, in fact, but that was then and this is now. ] However, I think, judging by the interactions he's had with others on his journal and what he's been saying, we can probably trust that he currently considers himself an ally, or at least, his main interest is currently the preservation of the village.

[ He takes out his own journal then and flips it open to a previously marked page, the one with Sasuke's arrival, and holds it out for Minato to see. The particular thread he has highlighted is this one. ]

As you can see here, he seems intent on taking care of the village, not destroying it. However, we should be cautious about the language he uses to describe how he intends to "take care" of Konoha.

[ Specifically, "tearing down" the bureaucracy, which could be read any number of ways. ]

[derpivity]

[He expected no less from them, given that they're Sasuke's teammates. Naruto and Sakura's reactions are well-anticipated, as was Kakashi's from the point of view of a sensei. He'd probably do the same, given the news about Obito, but Minato doesn't want to compare that to Sasuke's case.

Leaning in to peruse the visuals Kakashi provided, Minato nods and then leans back.]

It does seem in this conversation he had with Ino that he has noble interests for Konoha. And that's good. Yet, we can't completely forget his past actions.

[A brief pause.] In this place, however, we also can't afford to lose allies especially when they present themselves as so. [So yes, Naruto, he's agreeing with you there. If he's an ally, so be it.]

KAKASHI + SHIKAMARU

[derpivity]

[endgames]

['SUP. He's here. And in fact either before or after all is said and done, he's going to want to talk to Minato privately about some things too. He shows up early for this reason.

It's not because he doesn't trust Kakashi (...okay, his reaction has shaken his confidence in him a little) But there's some things that have happened in Luceti concerning Sasuke that not everyone needs to know about.

Besides, given Kakashi was the one who took this to Yondaime, he's sure he's already had his own private chat, so it's only fair Shikamaru gets the same.]

[derpivity]

[Upon Shikamaru's arrival, Minato greets him with a nod, also highly likely opening the door for him when he arrives. There's some tea in the living room as he gestures for Shikamaru to take a seat.]

Thank you for coming, Shikamaru. I understand you already know why I called you here. [Dutifully, he pours some tea in both their cups.] Kakashi told me things I need to know about Sasuke, though I'd like to hear what you think.

[endgames]

[He nods in answer to Minato's first assumption, only taking a seat when prompted. Almost hesitantly. He's used to standing around for discussions like these. Then again he's used to the Hokage Office, and not a living room.

Still, he does sit, eyes slanting to the side and wondering who else is home.]

I assume he informed you of the primary details, then? [Just so he knows where to start.]

[derpivity]

[A nod.]

He did.

[The Uchiha massacre, Sasuke leaving Konoha, thus being a missing-nin and being affiliated with a terrorist group etc.]

[endgames]

That influences my thoughts, when it comes to him. That and what I've seen of him here. It's hard for me to take Sasuke on nothing but his word, because from my experience, this is a man whose goals and allegiances change on a whim.

[derpivity]

I understand.

[He nods, taking in everything he said.]

I know most of what happened back in our world. Can you kindly fill me in on what he did in this place previously? Since, from what I've gathered, this isn't the first time he arrived in Luceti.

[He wants to know everything because he wants to give fair judgment even if he's becoming entirely convinced Sasuke needs guidance.]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru interlaces his fingers, bringing them up just short of his chin as he leans forward. His voice is kept monotonous, as he works through the facts.]

There's much not even I know. Today would be the fourth time I've met Sasuke in this place, but it's to my understanding he's been here two separate times prior to my arrival as well.

His behavior was always inconsistent, and dependent on how much he remembered of his time here. It's thanks to him I know what I do about the Uchiha Massacre - he told me everything in a rage that was followed up with a threat to the lives of any Konoha shinobi in the village.

Another time we met, he had no knowledge of that, but did appear to remember Luceti. He left us alone for the most part and lived in seclusion in the mountains. He took pains to avoid us, Naruto especially. I think the only reason he didn't bother with us is because he knew it would be pointless to do so in Luceti.

[There's something else about that Sasuke he wants to say... He's just trying to determine if it's right to.]

ITACHI

[derpivity]

[yourhatred]

[It's surreal, being summoned here by the Fourth, but Itachi is used to the surreal by now.

He was well aware of the man's presence here, but had kept silent until certain matters had been revealed. It's inevitable that they will be, nowadays, and he's resigned himself to that, even given Shikamaru permission to make mention of it. So when he's called upon, he responds obediently.

There are many things the Fourth could want to discuss, the matter of his brother chiefly among them. The timing of this meeting makes that the most likely option.

He doesn't knock upon arriving, simply stands outside the door. This is the Fourth Hokage. He's curious to see if the man will notice his presence before he has to make it known.]

[derpivity]

[Minato doesn't mistake the chakra signature, though it's entirely different from the young lad he used to know. Since at this time he's only expecting one person, Minato already knows it must be Itachi by the door.

Wasting no time, he opens the front door with a smile as his greeting. If this is surreal for Itachi, the same can be said for Minato. Then again, like the Uchiha, he's also used to surreal upon arrival in Luceti. The blonde tries his best to keep his smile on, even when he knows how much of a hard life Itachi lead.

He almost wants to pat his head, much like how he usually does whenever Minato sees him before.]

Thank you for coming, Itachi. Come in. There's tea in the living room.

[yourhatred]

[As expected.

The dark-haired man nods back at the Fourth, not matching the smile. He enters and makes his way into the living room, but he waits for an invitation before being seated. It's not his nature to immediately make himself comfortable in the household of another.

He'd seen Minato once before in Luceti, but that had simply been Naruto in the body of his father for one of the experiments. For all the coming and going that happens with those from his world, this is the first time he's spoken with the real man since getting here.]

I doubt you asked me over just to have tea.

[derpivity]

Perceptive.

[He beckons Itachi to the living room then takes a seat. Like with the others (i.e. Naruto, Kakashi, Gai etc), Minato still finds it hard to believe he's talking to the grown up young boy he used to see back in Konoha. The smile in his face remains, albeit fading a little, the moment he addresses Itachi again after he's seated as well.]

You're right, though I do also want to have tea with you. I called you here about your brother.

[yourhatred]

You have invited me to speak of my brother.

[He knew this before he arrived, but he repeats it back now in order to better add his following point.]

Is my brother, who has done far less harm than I, considered more problematic? You have invited a clan-murderer into your living room because the matter of a single confused missing-nin is of a greater priority.

[This is all said with his usual calm as he finally takes a seat and accepts a cup of the offered tea.]

[derpivity]

I did not call you to talk about the actions that, had I lived, you wouldn't have to do, Itachi.

[It still aches fierce just knowing his plight and the plight of the once proud Uchiha clan. And he couldn't fathom just how the elders thought of making Itachi, of all people, turn against his own family. It makes him sick to his stomach that Minato tries not to think about it.]

We're not going to talk about your brother's actions either. I simply want to ask a favor from you with regards to him.

[yourhatred]

[Some very small irrational part of Itachi flares up at the Fourth's first comment. One can't speak of what they would have been able to change unless they themselves are put in that position. He doesn't let any of that show in his expression, though, taking another sip of tea.]

Very well. I am here to listen.